Separable fastener



May 7, 1935. A. D. PANNUTTI, JR

SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed Sept. 8,V 1953 2 Sheets-Sher#v l ATTQRNEY May 7, 1935- A. D. PANNur-n, JR 2,000,415

I SEPRABLE FASTENER Filed Sept. 8, 1935 2 Sheets-,Sheet 2 mvENToR.-

ATTORNEY Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE `mums sEPAaABLE FAsTENEa Antonin n. runnin, Jr., raum; water, w. va. Application september s, 193s, serial N o. 688,653

5 Claims.

My invention relates to separable fasteners and more particularly to a fastener for securing together edges of parallel flexible strips of material, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a fastener embodying interlocking teeth arranged in staggered relation, the teeth having such formation as to prevent disengagement of the teeth accidentally, thereby providing a fastener which may be partly fastened if desired, and yet'maintain the edges of the strips secured against separation. j

It is also an object of the invention to provide an operating slide which is of a separable character permitting ready separation of the slide, which is of importance where the interlocking teeth may become jammed against lockingA or unlocking thereof.

Also, it is an aim of the invention to provide an operating slide of a separable character which embodies a ready means fory locking or unlocking of the parts thereof.

It is also an object of the invention to provide A a tooth formation of unique construction which will permit a close bringing together of the vedges to be secured,.thereby affording an effective closure which is of neat appearance and susceptible to use in situations not heretofore found possible 'with prior-fasteners of this type.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the fastener in partly closed position. Y

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the operating slide.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view -of the slide in partly locked position.

' Figure 5 is a vertical section thereof.

Figure I6 is a vertical section throughthe slide illustrating the position of the parts when in fully closed position.

Figure 7 is a detail slidemembers.

Figure 8 is a similar view member.

Figure 9 is a perspective view'of the pull-tab for the slide member.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a tooth embodied in my closure fastener.

11 isa sectional view thereof.

12 is a top plan view of the tooth.

13 isa modification of the tooth.

14 is an enlarged detail of a combined and catch employed in the fastener.

earrylngwtmyinventiontprovideapair perspective of one of the .y of the other slide Figure Figure Figure Figure Iton In of members Ill having normally parallel edges Il, each of which has secured thereto a plurality of interlocking members l2. The members I2 are secured to the members Il in a staggered relationship, as is Well understood in closures of this type.

As clearly shown in Figures 10 and 1l the interlocking members are substantially rectangular in plan view, one end thereof being slotted as at I3, for the purpose of receiving the edges Il of the members I after which they are compressed to effect an attachment thereto. Upon the upper side of the members I2 there is'provided an upstanding tooth I4, inclined slightly in a direction away from the slot I3. Preferably the teeth I4 have an oval formation as viewed in plan, thereby affording a tooth which will be readily engageable with a super-posed tooth aperture, as will be further explained, andjin addition afford a strong connection between the member I2 andthe base of the tooth.

I'he under sides of the interlocking members I2 are each provided with an aperture I the apex of which is positioned immediately below the base of the tooth I4 and in order to accommodate the tooth of an interlocking member therebeneath the aperture I5 is given an inclination corresponding to that of the tooth.

It will be noted from a consideration of Figure 1 that closure of the members It is effected by movement of the operating slide I6 in a downwardly direction, but it will of course be understood that the closing operation may be eifected in' an upwardly direction if a situation calls for such a fastener, by merely reversing the interlocking members I2 and the slide I I, and such relation of the parts is illustrated in Figure 14.

The slide I6 comprises in the present instance a pair Aof separable members I1 and Il, these members being constructed for slidable attachment to respective members III. 'I'he member I1 has a pair of side plates I Q--IS' extended in parallel relation and connected at their bases only, by a plate 2l. 'I'he side plates IS-IQ' and the plate 20 are preferably formed integrally, and the plate 2l also includes a raised rib 2|. The rib 2i extends between the plates I0, asclearly shown in Figure 2, and functions as a locking means when the members I1 and I3 are interleaved, as will be -apparent as the description proceeds.

The plates IQ-IO' are each provided with a raised portion 22 upon their inner. faces, and the longitudinal edges of the plates Ilm-Il'V adjacent the portions 22 are bent inwardly toward each other, defining flanges 23. These flanges define a slot 23' permitting passage of the slide when engaged with the members Il. The flanges have a curyature as shown in Figures 5 and 6 which cooperate with the interlocking members I2 duringopeningandcloslngmovementsotthe slide I8, as will be explained in greater detail hereinaften The plate I8' has a tongue 24 struck therefrom bent inwardly toward and contacting the plate I9.

'I'he tongue 24 it will therefore be seen braces theplates I8-I3 and further functions as a guide means for the member I8, as will be explained.

The plate I8 has an aperture 25 formed adjacent its base, the metal displaced by the formation of the aperture being recurved outwardly 'and upwardLv forming a pivot bearing 26 for a pull-tab 21. The plate I9 further has formed therein an arcuate slot 21-a adjacent its upper end, the slot having an entrance opening upon'the edge of the plate I8.

The member I8 is adapted to interleave with the member I1 and the construction thereof will now be described. The member I8 is somewhat similar to the member I1 including spaced side plates 28-28', connected by a plate 29, the latter plate having a semi-circular recess 30 formed therein adapted to receive the rib 2l of the member I1. The side: plates 28-28' are spaced aparta distance to be snugly received between the plates III-I9', and when fully engaged therewithin the edges 3I will snugly abut the raised portions 22 thus stopping further inward movement of the. member I8.

'I'he member I8 is of a length slightly less than the member I1, in order that the upper edges of the side plates 28-28' will stop flush with the upper edges of the side plates IS-I8. The side plates 28-28 have portions 32 adjacent their upper ends bent inwardly toward each other, def flning a slot 33. It will be understood that the slot 33 permits sliding movement of the slide member with respect to the member I0 with which it is engaged. The plate 28 includes a rib 34 located thereon in a position to be received in the arcuate slot 21, and for this reason the rib has an arcuate formation corresponding substantially tothe rib In order to accommodate the plate 24 of the member I1, the plates 28-28 are provided with arcuate slots 35, as clearly shown in Figures 5, 6 and 8. An aperture 3B is formed in the side plate 28 adapted to align with the aperture 25 of the member I1.

In` assembling the slide members I1-I8 the member I8 is inserted between the plates I8--I8' with the rib 34 entered within the slot 21Il (see Fig. 4). With the parts in this position, a light pressure inward is exerted upon the lower part 'of the member I8, causing this portion to move inwardly to such an extent that the recess 30 will be engaged upon the rib 2l. Thus the two members I1-I3 will be retained in proper relationship. Y

As is customary in fastenings of this type, it is essential that the operating slide be moved to effect a closing and opening of the interlocking members, and in thisinstance the pull tab 21 previously referred to is provided. As shown in Figures l, 2, and 4,*the tab 21 is pivotally mounted upon the bearing, and inasmuch as the slide members II--Il are interlocked by virtue of the ribs 2| and 34 these members'will be moved as a c unit.

The pull-tab 21 includes an integrally formed arcuate shaped tongue 31 which will be moved through the apertures 26 and 36 upon movement 0f the tab into operative position as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2, thereby further insurins positive locking of the slide members I'I and I8 against lateral separation.

In order that the tab 21 may be retained in its uppermost or inoperative position I provide a retainer 38 upon the side plate I9, adapted to frictionally engage within a recess 39 of the tab 21. It will be obvious that the tab 21 may be released from its engagement with the retainer, by a slight outward pull upon the upper edge of the tab.

Means are provided at the upper and lower portions of the members I0 for preventing complete withdrawal of the operating slides, and in the present instance' I have illustrated buttons 40 riveted or otherwise secured to respective members. Occasion may arise where it would be desirable to remove the operating slides, and therefore the buttons 40 are provided with arcuate slots 4I. In removing the slides it will be necessary to separate them from their interlocked relation, and the slides then separately moved so as to cause the flanges 23-32 as the case may be Ato enter the slots 4I of respective buttons. The removal of the slide I6 may be required in many instances, and especially when an article embodying my fastener is to be laundered.

The operation of my fastener will b e readily apparent from the following description thereof, and'attention is invited particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings.

With the slide I6 in its assembled relation 'as shown in Figure l, and the pull tab 21 in its outwardly swung position as shown in Figure 2, downward movement of the slide I6 or a'pull upon the tab will cause the flanges 23-32 to engage respective end portions of t interlocking members I2, causing progressive upward swinging movement thereof. The tooth I4 will engage within the aperture I5 of the interlocking member I2 thereabove and such movement of the interlocking membersA continues so long as the slide is moved or until the desired amount of closing has been eiected. It will be noted that theslide I6 may be stoppedl at any point desired, without liability of the interlocking members I2 becoming disengaged, since the teeth I4 of alternate 'interlocking members I2 are reversely inclined, thereby precluding any tendency of the interlocking members I2 from becoming accidentally disengaged from their respective apertres. 'Ihe interlocking members I2 are still further retained in positionY by contact with a portion of the flanges 2342.

Also, it should be noted that when the pull tab 21 is swung to its operative position the tongue 31 will have been swung to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, and with the tongue engaged through the apertures 25 and 36 lateral separation of the members I1 and I8 is posi-. tively prevented, since the tongue 31 will engage the side walls of the respective apertures. l

When it is desired to detach the slide from the portions of material I 8, the pull tab 21 is retained in its position by the keeper 33, thereby maintaining the tongue free of the apertures 25-36 and by a slight outward push upon the lower portion cured thereto interlocking members I2a The manner of interleaving the slides I'l-IB is clearly shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 whereina series of the stages of movement of the slides are indicated, and reference is now made to these figures. The slide I 8 is positioned between the plates lil-I9 of the slide member l1 with the rib 34 engaged within the slot 21a and the tongue 24 partly engaged within the slot 35. A slight pressure upon the lower portion of the slide Il in the direction of the slide l1 will cause the slide I8 to rise slightly over the rib 2|, the rib finally coming to rest within the groove 30, thereby holding parts |1-I8 in their interleaved relation as a unit.

The closure just described performs its closing action upon a downward movement of the slide I6, but in Figure 14 I have illustrated a closure wherein an upward sliding of the slide will effect an interlocking of the closure members, and attention is now invited to this ligure for an understanding of the construction and operation therecf. lThe reference character Illa represents the flexible strip members each of which has se- One of the members Ila has fixed at the base thereof a lug 50, while the other member Illa has fixed" thereto a hookmember 5I engageable within -an aperture 52 of the lug 5U. With the hook 5| engaged within the aperture 52 the members IIa will be effectively held together and reducing strain upon the interlocking members I2a to a minimum and further prevent disengagement of the slide ISa.

The hook A5| has an arcuate shaped groove 53, extending in a substantially vertical direction and in line to receive the flange 23a of the slide. From the foregoing it will be apparent that the slide lia may be slid into operative engagement with the members loa by engaging the ilange 23a with the groove 53 and similarly withdrawn therefrom. -In order to prevent casual disengagement of the slide, I provide a stop device 54 in the form of a swingable lever 55. 'I'he lever 55'is of a length to extend across the groove 53,v and in order to limit the movement of the lever I provide a pin 56. v'lhe lever 55 is so pivoted as to fall by gravity across the groove, and in this position the slide lia. will be prevented from becoming disengaged from the members ila. The lever 55 must be manually raised in order that the slide lia may pass through the groove 53.

In Figure 13 I have illustrated a modiiica' tion of the interlocking members and in this instance, I have shown a body 51 having a slot lia. Upon the upper-edge of the body 51 there is an upstanding inclined tooth 54, and immediately therebeneath there is a, tooth aperture 54. The forward end'of the body terminates in a heel portion 60. The present construction of interlocking members permits the formation of the member from a 'single stamping operation and one wherein the strains exerted upon the'inteb' locking members will be distributed to those portions which will be best able to withstand any excessive strains. I

While I have sho'wn and described a preferred example of my fastener I do not confine'myself to the exact construction set forth,.and reserve as my own, all such modifications as. fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringer members having opposed series of interlockingmembers, a. slide cooperable with said interlocking members, said slide comprising a pair of separably related members, one associated with each of said stringer members, each said separable members having opposed ilanges disposed uponzopposite sides of said stringer members, interlocking means carried by said separable members for securement as a unit, stop means at the ends of said Stringer members for limiting movement -of said slide, and said stop means having arcuate slots for reception of respective flanges of said separable members, whereby said separable members may be detached from said stringer members.

2. A slide for a lseparable fastener comprising a pair of body members having parallel side walls, an end wall connecting said parallel walls, one of said body members being adapted to interleave with said other member, a rib formedin the end wall of one of said body members, the end wall of said other body member having a groove formed therein for reception of said rib, an arcuate slot formed in a wall of, one of said body members, and said other body member having an arcuate rib for'engagement in said arcuate slot whereby to maintain said rib and groove in engaged relation and said body members in interlocked unitary relationship."

3. A slide for a separable fastener comprising a pair of interleaved body members, each yof' said body members having an end wall, a rib formed in the end wall of one body member, a groove formed in the end wall of the other body member and receiving said rib, a plate carried by one of said body members and extended in the path of movement of said other body member when.

moved into interleaved position, said other body member having slots for reception of said plate, a slot formed in one of said members, a rib formed on the other of said members and adapted to slidably and frictionally receive said rib, a swingable pull tab carried by one of said body members, said tab having an arcuate shapedi tongue, and said body members having aligned apertures forl reception of said tongue in one position of said pull tab.

4. A separablefastener comprising a pair of stringer members having opposed series of interlocking members, a. slide movable along said members to engage and disengage said interlocking members, said slide comprising oppositely disposed fianges, fastening end connecting means carried 'by said stringers, said fastening means comprising an` apertured lug member, a hook cooperable therewith, said hook having an arcuate-shaped groove for receptionof a flange of said slide when beingengaged with said stringers, gravity actuated detent means swingably mounted on said hook to assume a position across said groove, and a stop pin for said detent means.

5; A slide for a separable fastener comprising a pair 'of interleaved-body members having parallel abutting side walls, said walls -having compleinentary grooves and ribs for aligning and frictionally-holding the body members in interleaved position, and manually operable means for positively locking the interleaved body members'.

. ANTONIO D. PANNUI'II. Jn. 

